MULTAN: Customs Investigation and Prosecution (I&P) branch lodged FIR against suspect involved in smuggling of betel nuts recovered by Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO).
Sources told Customs Today, that Customs ASO team raided a private warehouse on secret information located near Basti Bhambar wala near Almaida Hotel Sher Shah Road Multan. Special anti-smuggling squad including Inspector Waqas Leghari, Inspector Muhammad Asif Sindhu, Inspector Tahir and other raided in the warehouse on the directions of Collector Ambreen Ahmad Tarar.
Customs anti-smuggling teams recovered 26 metric tons of foreign origin betel nuts packed in sacks during raid in the warehouse. The said warehouse was locked and smuggled betel nuts were dumped in the warehouse. No one was present in the warehouse during the raid and Customs teams sealed the said warehouse after recovery of contraband items.
Customs anti-smuggling squad started interrogation against the owner of warehouse and they found that the warehouse was belonged to suspect Muhammad Tahir. Suspect Muhammad Tahir was owner of warehouse and he was also involved in the smuggling of betel nuts.
Said accused was supplying betel nuts to local markets of South Punjab especially Multan and its adjourning areas. Customs teams issued notice to suspect about the possession of recovered betel nuts but he failed to give any justification
Multan Customs seized the smuggled goods under Customs Act, 1969 and Customs Investigation & Prosecution lodged criminal case against accused for smuggling betel nuts. Multan Customs nominated Muhammad Tahir in the criminal case for smuggling according to Customs Rules and under Section U/S 2(s) 16, 32, 32A, 157(2), 178 of the Customs Act 1969.
